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Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Christian Family Coalition's Attack on Congresswoman Ilena Ros-Lehtinen. By Geniusofdespair

You have to hit on this press release to read it. It really should be read by every friggin' politican in Miami Dade County who goes to this group for an endorsement. You should be ashamed, Democrats and Republicans alike. This press release is a travesty.

Yeah, I really don't have much use for Congresswoman Ilena Ros-Lehtinen but I would never call her corrupt like the Christian Family Coaltion did in this press release. Corrupt is a very harsh word. I never called Natacha Seijas corrupt, I don't even think I ever called David Rivera corrupt. Hell, this is a blog and if I am not using that word I'm damn sure that a group that calls itself 'Christian' should NOT be calling a Congresswoman corrupt. Lets look at the meaning: Having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money.

Why is the Christian Family Coalition calling the Congresswoman corrupt? Because of a vote Ileana Ros-Lehtinen cast that they didn't like. If I used the same barometer, every single politician whoever served anywhere in Miami Dade County would be corrupt, including Katy Sorenson. Katy cast a few votes I didn't like. I am just not that extreme.

There are always going to be some votes I won't like that is life. Granted the Christian Family Coalition are pretty much a two trick pony, their issues are Anti-gay and Anti-choice and their mouth piece is Anthony Verdugo (If he disappeared so would the group). I do recognize that with only 2 issues, the group would put great importance on a vote they didn't like. But there is a way to phrase displeasure that is not hateful and vengeful. Especially if you want to act like a real Christian.

I, of course, am following a lot more issues. Some votes I get madder at than others. I just put the politician on my shit list. But I still don't call them corrupt.

Frankly, I am shocked that any politician or judge would want to be endorsed by a group that releases threatening, nasty press releases against fellow politicians and sitting judges. Be strong public figures: stand firm and boycott this group when they reach out to you. You owe it to U.S. Congresswoman Ilena Ros-Lehtinen and to County Commissioner Dennis Moss.I wrote about the CFC's nasty press release on Dennis Moss on Saturday. Also, do it for the judges. In a Press Release from the CFC dated 9/22/2010 (in response to the 3rd DCA opinion upholding Judge Lederman in the Gil adoption case) Anthony Verdugo said:

Whoa! I implore every reader to send an email or call their county commissioner, their city officials and their State officials: Tell them "Don't go for a Christian Family Coalition endorsement." If a politician comes to your door, ask them if they have the CFC endorsement or if they have gone to a Christian Family Coalition meeting to speak. If they have, say thank you and close the door.

There is a way to behave and even I behave better than this...hard to believe. Read the damn press release! and hit on the link.

To see an older list from 2010 who supported/was supported by the CFC, hit read more:
Below is a list of our Host Committee members, Special Commemorative Ads and the candidates who spoke in 2010:

You bet. Bad enough they go there, the funders are even worse. The judges ESPECIALLY should be ashamed to be funding with ads.

Remember this post is not about a politician's agreement with the positions of the CFC. They can agree if they want. It is about the way the CFC conducts itself towards the politicians who DISAGREE with them. No one should accept these horrible press releases as a normal way to communicate. Going there shows you don't care about CFC's behavior.

The CFC has finally shown to the citizens its stand against the people of this community. Politicians that are depending and fraternizing with this organization we need to know. Dennis and Ileana I am proud of you for speaking out on this issue. However, many of us change our minds we have friends and family members we love and care about and it really manners that we support them and LOVE them unconditionally.

I don't particularly care for Ileana's policies on most issues but I'm proud that she took a stand on this.I feel bad that the CFC is talking about her like this.Any politician who is on this list may get money form them, but they won't get a vote from me.

Although she does not vote on every issue as I would prefer, I have always felt she was a more moderate republican and did what she thought was best for her constituents rather than following the extreme side of the party line. I say good for her and shame on them.

I do think it is incredible that our public servants give such an angry group credibility by going there for approval. I have to think that the congresswoman will be boycotting. I hope everyone has the bravery to join her.

It is too bad that it has to get personal before Republicans see the light on an issue. Iliana being one example and Nancy Regan on stem cell research. Too bad they can't the issues before someone in the family affected. Late is better than never.

It is hardly unusual for a columnist to get accused of offending people. But I may be talking about a world record here.

There have been folks in the past who claimed I offended them. Folks like gun owners and pit bull owners and condo commandos. As they say, they can't handle the truth.--Cut--But now I am being accused of being a serial offender, the likes of which the world probably hasn't seen. I could wind up in the Guinness Book of World Records.

All because the Christian Family Coalition took umbrage with a column I wrote, after the group chastised Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, for co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act.

Ros-Lehtinen needs no help from me, but I thought it was a fine move by her to basically say the federal government shouldn't deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.

And I didn't like that the Chrisitian Family Coalition took off against Ros-Lehtinen with language that might have made potty-mouth Allen West cringe.

They said Ros-Lehtinen "has lied to and misled her own constitutents," kowtowed to "the extremist agenda," accused her of being an "arrogant, anti-family, homosexualist extremist," and a "public servant tragically gone astray." I guess they don't like her.

And they don't like me, because I criticized their group.

In a missive on their website with the headline "Sun Sentinel Columnist Offends Floridians Who Voted to Respect Marriage," the group says I wrote an "inordinately vicious, hate-filled article."

They add, "Mr. Stein's article spews enough hate and vile to shock even the most battle scarred among us." Yes, saying gays deserve equality is spewing hate and vile, according to some.

They also said — this is where the Guinness people have to be alerted — I offended the 4,890,883 Floridians who voted "to protect and respect the institution of marriage as it has existed from day one."

Amazing. If I offended every single person in Buffalo, I would have only offended 261,310 people. But now I have supposedly offended almost five million Floridians who supported the Defense of Marriage Act, signed into law in 1996.

To which I say, get over yourself.

The world has changed plenty since 1996. Five states, as well as the District of Columbia, have now legalized same-sex marriage. We now allow gays in the military. Florida has come somewhat out of the Dark Ages by finally allowing gays and lesbians to adopt.

Fairness and equal rights is a movement that is heading to your neighborhood, whether you like it or not. And despite the overwrought language from the Christian Family Coalition, no, I will not apologize for defending equality. No apology is necessary.

And the group asked me to show civility, as if they showed it with their rhetoric against Ros-Lehtinen.

Anyway, as offended as the Christian Family Coalition claims to be, they put in a plug for donations and contributions at the end of their screed ripping me. They might feel terribly offended, but if they can make a buck off it, hey, why not?

Quotes hall of fame - worth another look:

Jonathon Dunlop of Australia about the Miami Airport:"This is the most disorganized shambles of an airport that exists on this earth.''April 01, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment on Post__________________________________On "Colony Collapse Disorder":Anonymous said...I say lets wait till the last tree is going to be cut down, the last bit of oil used, the last lowland coastal areas flooded before we make any rash decisions that might effect the economy.April 21, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment_________________________________On Bee “Colony Collapse Disorder” being blamed on cell phones:Anonymous said...Hmmm. What are bees doing with cell phones, anyhow?April 20, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment_________________________________On South Florida Water Supply:Ron Littlepage said...Unfortunately, we know who would win when it comes to allowing development to run amok and it's not the wildlife.April 20, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment Post_________________________________Lesley Blackner said:In Florida, the sad reality is that government exists to serve the development machine, not the citizenry. That's why it's proper to say that in Florida we have government of the developer, by the developer and for the developer.April 22, 2007 Eye on Miami Post_________________________________On City of Miami and Miami Dade County giving $1,000,000 each to Jorge Perez’s Related Group (The Group's 2005 revenues were $3.25 billion.):"It makes as much sense as me donating half my paycheck to Warren Buffett.”May 6, 2007 Miami Herald Columnist Ana Menendez_________________________________On the FCAT Test:"'Florida is a serial mis-user of test scores.''Bob Schaeffer, director for Massachusetts-based FairTest.May 25, 2007 Miami Herald_________________________________Clifford Schulman (Greenberg Traurig Lobbyist):"This is the first time in 33 years that any one has accused me of fraud." June 28, 2007 Miami HeraldI say: hmm.__________________________________Max Rameau, Homeless Activist:"I respect Ron Book for his work with the Homeless Trust, but the Liberty City community and others have given broad support to this idea. I don't know that a big-time millionaire lobbyist can tell us what is best for Liberty City and the black community.'' July 28, 2007 Miami Herald__________________________________"After years of mismanagement under a board of political appointees and neighborhood activists, Miami-Dade County administrators have proposed a new way to run the troubled empowerment zone program. The plan: Bring in new political appointees and neighborhood activists."November 6, 2007 Miami Herald: Reporter Scott Hiaasen______________________________________"Saying "Greater Everglades" and "Northern Everglades" is not saying Everglades -- other places are deserving of being protected too, but there is only one Everglades. The main thing is to keep the 'Main Thing' the main thing -- which, lately, has not been the main thing." Bob Mooney - on Listserve "Everglades Commons"________________________________________"Does anyone in their right mind believe that Florida could conduct postal balloting without a major screw-up or scandal? Heavens, no! The whole country is keenly aware that our state is a sump hole of incompetence and corruption."Carl Hiaasen - March 16, 2008 Miami Herald_______________________________________On the Charter Review: "Commissioners want us to vote on their own pet changes, ideas the review team explicitly rejected. And, they're throwing their blatantly self-serving ballot questions at us at the same time. What a slap in the face to the charter review team — and to all of us!" Michael Lewis of Miami Today - April 10, 2008______________________________________On the Miami Dade County Commission:''Unfortunately, this is a commission that would build a cyanide factory next to a playground if you hired the right 12 lobbyists,'' Miami Lakes Councilman Michael Pizzi - May 14, 2008______________________________________"The days where we’re just building sprawl forever, those days are over. I think that Republicans, Democrats, everybody recognizes that that’s not a smart way to build communities." President Barack Obama in Fort Meyers - February 10, 2009______________________________________"So."Dick Cheney's response when told that two thirds of Americans did not support the war in Iraq. - Time Magazine 2008______________________________________"It seems like a bad idea can always find a home in the Florida Legislature." - Howard Simon - Executive Director of Florida ACLU - March 24, 2010

______________________________________Complete this sentence: South Florida really needs a..."Regional plan for controlled growth (before it becomes a concrete jungle similar to Houston), and a completely new set of elected officials that make decisions based on what's good for the future of South Florida instead of what's good for their wallets. - Jack McCabe, Real Estate expert who predicted the housing boom's end. - August 29, 2011 Miami Herald